The trials and tribulations of the former world no.1 Novak Djokovic continued unabated here at Crandon Park today, as he fell 6-3 6-4 in just 67 minutes to the unheralded Benoit Paire in the second round of a tournament he has dominated since he first won it in 2007 as a 19 year old.
Djokovic was on a 16-match winning streak having won the Miami Open in 2014, 2015 and 2016, having missed last year’s tournament with a right elbow injury. Having had minor corrective surgery to the right elbow after the Australian Open, the Serb’s form and consistency from the back of the court has been patchy with a win loss ratio of 3-2 this year.
Paire, ranked 47, must have fancied his chances against the six-time champion despite losing their only previous encounter in straight sets on the hard courts of Cincinnati in 2015, having seen him go out early at Indian Wells to Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.
The two traded blows from the back of the court from the get go, with little to separate the two until the seventh game when Djokovic’s serve came under pressure after inexplicably sending a routine forehand crosscourt drive long to go 0-30 down. Paire set up two break points two points later when the Serb netted a backhand off an offensive return of serve from his opponent. Djokovic surrendered his serve when he netted a high forehand drive played from mid court.
With the wind in his sails, Paire consolidated the break of serve with an emphatic service game in which he served three consecutive aces and then broke the hapless Djokovic again in the next game, winning six points in a row from 40-0 Djokovic, to clinch the opening set in 29 minutes.
Paire looked to dominate with a five game stretch when he had the former world no.1 at 0-40 down in his opening service game of the second set. The partisan crowd sensing that their man was in deep trouble began to clap and holler and the Serb duly responded, winning six points in a row to prevent a third successive break of serve.
Paire’s resolve was undiminished however, and he broke for 4-2 as Djokovic’s backhand flew long at 15-40 down to groans of disbelief from the legion of Djokovic fans.
A Paire double fault at 30-30 in the next game gave the Serb a much needed new lease of life, and to roars of approval from his desperate fans, he broke back immediately by nailing a forehand drive up the line for a clean winner.
Serving at 4-5 down, Djokovic suddenly found himself three match points down courtesy of a forehand approach going wide, a Paire backhand winner and a forced error on the forehand off a deep Paire backhand return. The Frenchman converted without delay on his first match point when Djokovic netted his backhand off yet another aggressive backhand return from his opponent.
Paire converted 4 of his 8 break points, hit 9 aces and got an impressive 75% of his first serves into play.
A subdued Djokovic who had hoped to rejuvenate his fortunes after a disappointing start to the season was at a loss to explain another poor display; “I mean, I’m trying, but it’s not working. That’s all. That’s all it is. Obviously I’m not feeling great when I’m playing this way. Of course, I want to be able to play as well as I want to play. Just it’s impossible at the moment. That’s all. I lost to a better player.”
“I started the match well, first six games, then I just ran out of gas. He was serving well. I just wasn’t able to break him down. He was just coming up with the good shots at the right time. It happened very fast.”
Djokovic’s frustration at not being able to find his best tennis on his favourite surface is particularly disappointing having done so well here in the past.
“I wanted to come to Indian Wells and Miami because I wanted to see whether I can play a match. I love playing on hard court. I wanted to get a couple of tournaments before the clay court season starts. I obviously wasn’t ready for that.”
“I love this sport“, he continued. “There’s a lot of people that support me, especially here. I thank them for their great support. Unfortunately, I’m not at the level they would like to see me at and I would like to see myself at. But it is what it is. Life goes on.”
